Happy Palm Sunday

It’s been a funny week; two weeks into the lockdown and the initial confusion/giddiness of people who suddenly have a lot of time on their hands seems to be morphing into the depression of people who have a lot of time on their hands but find themselves trapped indoors. The memes and jokes are decreasing in number as we enter the period when reality begins to bite. Generally I’ve found that most people are just getting on with it but I think the younger people are finding it harder than the pensioners. We are the children who are used to instant gratification and constant distractions; when there is no ‘next new thing’ but just the insistent stream of our own inward thoughts it can be a true nightmare if you are not used to solitude. But be of good cheer, the lockdown will end. The world we find ourselves in will have altered but human resilience is worth betting on. At any rate we have now seen that the planet will survive without people. The question is, what is it worth without people? Walking through eerily empty streets on the way to work, it feels like all colour has been drained out of the world until I see another person. Beautiful as it is, the Earth is not worth a thing without people to admire its beauty. One in the eye for the overpopulation zealots.

As ever, I’m maintaining that the end of lockdown deadline is this weekend, based on my hope and prayer that the churches are up and running next week. The next two posts will be for my Christian brethren and sistren seeing as the pusillanimous CofE has downed tools (with the odd exception). Bear with us ; I’m sure secular UK will rear its head soon enough. Kudos to Rev. Pat Allerton of St. Peters, Notting Hill, who decided that if people can’t come to church, the church must go to the people. I guess all hope is not lost for the CofE afterall. Good man. I give you the Rev himself :

https://www.facebook.com/emma.peterswatson/videos/10156908679880685/UzpfSTUxMjUxNDA2NzoxMDE1ODY2Mjg4MDg1OTA2OA/

There are indications that the government will wish to extend the lockdown for the six months which of course fills us all with horror. All I can offer you is divine intervention – your MP can’t help you, your parents, doctors, lawyers, therapist etc etc, can’t lift the lockdown ……….. but I know a God who can stop all these sheenanigans in an instant. Pray, not least because we’re fresh out of options and you have nothing to lose. For the Christians here, if you can find a better prophecy describing the times we are in than Isaiah 24: 4-13, particularly 9-11, I’d like to see it. For the non-christians, be aware that the whole of this chapter is a terrifying prophecy of the end of the world so I caution the sensitive among you to tread lightly. If it’s any consolation, it’s not as scary as Revelations 🙂 Revelations terrifies me and I don’t scare easily. I console myself that hopefully I won’t be alive by the time that basket of worms is opened but who knows? Anyhoo, because this is AlaraApothecary and we sow only blessings, I leave you with a fabulous Nigerian/English mash- up (Yoruba to be precise) courtesy of my sister. Thanks BC! Hope it brightens your week. Stay safe, stay healthy. God bless and happy Palm Sunday.